Councilwoman Won’t Be Charged Over Argument

The district attorney’s office will not file charges against a City Council member who was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace at a rowdy August council meeting.

Prosecutors said that Maria S. Chacon’s actions were protected by free speech and assembly provisions in the U.S. Constitution.

Chacon, Bell Gardens’ former mayor, was arrested at City Hall with her husband, Jesse Chacon, after an Aug. 10 meeting.

According to the district attorney’s report of its decision, Maria Chacon began to yell at Mayor David Torres after he told her sister, Rosa Cobos, to stop speaking during a council meeting. Cobos had criticized Torres and praised her sister in her remarks, the report said.

The argument between Chacon and Torres ignited a shouting match among residents attending the meeting. Police Chief Frederick M. Freeman, who was at the meeting, told everyone to leave, and called officers to restore order.

After the room was cleared, the Chacons and about 20 supporters outside City Hall demanded to be readmitted to the council chambers, but Freeman denied them entry, the report said.

When Freeman told the crowd to leave, the Chacons shouted that they would stay put, and argued with Freeman in a manner the report described as “reckless behavior in front of an extremely agitated crowd.” According to the report, Freeman feared a riot, but when backup officers arrived in a few minutes the crowd left.

The Chacons were arrested on charges of disturbing the peace and obstructing a police officer.